And Glory Bee has turned into something rich and strange. (Name that Shakespeare play!)
She’s been broken to the lead, and while I’m still working on getting her to willingly come to me, she is not the wild calf that she was not too long ago.
There’s a new sheriff in town and it’s me.
She did enjoy some half-wild moments this week when her halter came off and I let her cavort around at will in the goat yard, nursing mommy any time she wanted.
I took a couple days off milking because she never leaves me any when she has a full access pass. I let her have these few shining days because I knew I was about to take mommy away.
This weekend, we put Beulah Petunia back in her wonderland, freeing the goats of her heavy stomp in their yard.
She was upset when she realized Baby hadn’t come with her.
(Insert angry cow noises.)
Here’s Glory Bee in the pen with her halter back on.
(Insert angry calf growling. Yes, she growls.)
For the next few days, I’m going to keep Glory Bee penned while I train her to (finally) see me as food while I let her milk her mommy at the same time. I’m setting up temporary shop milking BP just outside the goat pen, bringing Glory Bee out on a lead to nurse after I finish milking. (Getting BP over there is no problem. She watches me put her food in a big wash tub and when I open the gate, she can’t run over there fast enough.)
Hopefully in a few days Glory Bee will catch on to the routine then I can let her out of the pen and back into the goat yard. The idea is that she will come to me as the “food source” because when she sees BP outside the goat pen chowing down and getting milked, she’ll know it’s her turn next. BUT she has to come to ME to get through the gate. I am the ticket to mommy. And I’m bringing mommy enticingly close to rub it in.
Well, that’s THE PLAN.
It’s good to have BP out of the goat yard. It’s not an area meant to house a dinosaur. She was pretty hard on the yard. It’s an area designed for goats. A few donkeys for the winter, okay. But not a dinosaur.
Baby goat between the legs of a dinosaur.
I was a little bit worried she’d step on a baby or something.
Sailor: “But I was gonna get a ladder–
–and milk her!”
texwisgirl says:
Yay Glory Bee! The domestication continues! I hope Beulah Petunia can handle being separated from the growing girl without too much worry. Won’t it be wonderful someday when they can pasture together again?! Until then, keep up the good work! Bribery for food works every time! 🙂
On December 5, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Kathie says:
That calf has the most amazing mouth.
Oh, the Shakespearean play is The Tempest.
On December 5, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Sue, a Florida Farm Girl says:
Maybe I’ve forgotten, but does BP have some sort of enclosed shelter for the upcoming cold winter?? And, girl, you ought to be milking inside that shelter during the winter, too!!! I never had to milk — couldn’t get the hang of it (thankfully) 😉 — but Mama always milked in the barn, summer or winter. Then cow was turned out. But, heck, even the worst winter here in Florida isn’t as bad as your normal ones!!
Maybe 2011 will bring you guys a barn!!
On December 5, 2010 at 6:11 pm
beverly says:
Best of luck :moo:
On December 5, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Nancy P says:
Glory Bee hourly rings her bell!
Hark, how I hear her,
Hark, now I hear her,
Ding dong … growl.
On December 5, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Bev says:
Oh Suzanne, for the new year I wish you a new barn… We had six cows that we milked 2 times a day and the barn was a must. Of course that was in Montana where the winters were usually 25 to 30 below zero with 3 or 4 feet of snow on the ground all winter….
Stay warm..
On December 5, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Nancy in Iowa says:
Yep – your own barn has to be the next priority! Can’t you find one of those wonderful old barns you love so much and wish it onto your property? Looks like you’ve worked wonders with GB. :moo: :cowsleep:
On December 5, 2010 at 7:28 pm
AnnieB says:
Love your title and the “rich and strange”. Ariel is so sweet. . .as is Glory Bee! So happy that she’s coming along.
On December 5, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Joy says:
Why don’t you put up a freewill “love offering” for us to donate to your barn-raising project? Pick out a barn you want, put up one of those thingys that show how much money we’ve raised toward the goal….c’mon now, Suzanne….think about it! :shimmy:
On December 5, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Kris Sherrill says:
That is the most beautiful calf I think I have ever seen. Just gorgeous. I was just telling my hubby I wished we had a shelter for our 2 heafers, especially this week when we will only be in the 30’2 here in N. Ga. He just said they are cows and we see cows out all over the place and they are just fine. But I know it would be really nice to have a warm cozy barn to milk them in. I can only dream as well. One fine day…
On December 5, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Kris Sherrill says:
Ooppps, I meant to say heifers, not heafers. Darn, I hate to spell a word wrong.
On December 5, 2010 at 8:53 pm
bonita says:
also second title in Brian Froud’s Faerielands series . . .
On December 5, 2010 at 9:14 pm
CATRAY44 says:
I agree with Joy, in post 9!!!
On December 6, 2010 at 6:16 am
Ramona says:
Sounds like a plan to me. Sailor is cute, cute, cute. Glad he didn’t get stepped on.
On December 6, 2010 at 10:23 am
Karo says:
That Sailor is one handsome little goat. Clover and BP know how to make pretty babies.
On December 6, 2010 at 10:28 am
Miss Becky says:
great pics of the critters – I love Glory Bee’s wet topknot, and Sailor needs to come home with me. I want Sailor. I love those eyes. :airkiss: :airkiss: :airkiss:
On December 6, 2010 at 10:55 am
KentuckyFarmGirl says:
I was thinking the same thing as #9 and #13! You give so much to us! We could have a “barn-raising” fundraiser!!!
On December 6, 2010 at 11:41 am
whaledancer says:
Since you’re quoting The Tempest, does that mean you’re plotting to find Glory Bee her own Ferdinand the Bull, one day? Or maybe you’re just hoping she’ll be as obedient as Miranda.
Glad to hear she’s calming down. Maybe she’s outgrowing her rebel stage. Well, we can hope, anyway.
On December 6, 2010 at 12:36 pm
CATRAY44 says:
You could even offer a “have your name engraved on Suzanne’s barn” for those who donate a certain amount…… :cowsleep:
On December 7, 2010 at 8:12 am